Second Time Unlucky (no more smug mum)

Looking back my first pregnancy was a breeze. Apart from a few weeks of morning sickness in the early stages, and some aches and pains at the end, I felt full of energy. I was one of those smug Mums-to-be women who went on about how much they loved being pregnant, and how great they felt. I went to the gym three times a week, and still fit some of my (stretchy) regular clothes right up until I gave birth.
My hair got thick and glossy, and people told me my skin looked radiant. As the due date neared, I looked forward to finally holding my baby, but also felt a bit sad that I wouldn’t be pregnant anymore.
So I wasn’t concerned about going through it all again. I even looked forward to it.
Except this time round, it’s completely different.
The first bit was just the same – the positive test that took us slightly by surprise, the excited disbelief. Then the sickness kicked in and this time it was brutal. The constant nausea, the unbelievable exhaustion, that nasty little Catch-22 that left my body weak with hunger, yet unable to eat anything without throwing up. For two months I could barely talk, or speak, but finally the sickness began to lift. Except now, instead of that amazing, energetic middle bit, I’m constantly knackered. I know it’s to be expected. I’m two and a half years older. Work, life, and an active toddler are all wearing me out, and I can’t sleep in, or nap when I feel tired, like I did last time. I’m much bigger than I was with Lucia, and I feel totally and utterly wrung out. This time around, no one is complimenting me on my pregnant glow. And although my hair has gone lovely and thick again, I feel too wretched to take any pleasure in my luscious new locks.
It’s even made me think twice about my long-held dream for three children. I’m just not sure I want to go through this all over again — and I haven’t even reached that really REALLY uncomfortable third trimester!
I’m really looking forward to the new baby, but I have to admit I’m not enjoying this pregnancy much at all. Did anyone else feel the same with their second (or subsequent) pregnancies???